All heroes have to start somewhere. This sequel follows the boy Tarzan and his life-shaping adventures. Released to video in 2005, TARZAN II: The Legend Begins is an entertaining story that explains what life for the young boy was like in the mighty jungle. The film features two new songs written by Phil Collins who famously contributed to the original film.

The boy Tarzan, voiced by Harrison Chad, wants desperately to fit in. He is painfully aware of just how different he is when compared to other gorillas. He is slower than any of his peers and suffers constant ridicule because of his appearance. His only ape friends are his mother, Kala, voiced by Glenn Close, and Terk, voiced by Brenda Grate. When his presence threatens Kala’s place in the tribe, Tarzan sneaks away to the forbidding Dark Mountain.

Amidst the rocky crags, he is taken prisoner by a pair of gorilla twins, Uto and Kago, voiced by Brad Garrett and Ron Perlman respectively. Soon the bellowing voice of the mythic monster, Zugor, voiced by George Carlin, echoes across the mountains, giving Tarzan the chance to escape. He sets off again as is soon taken in by a grumpy old gorilla. Through a series of twists and turns it appears the old gorilla is much more than he appears.

Tarzan discovers the crotchety old gorilla is actually the infamous monster, Zugor. He has been using the hollow trees on the mountain to scare away the other gorillas. In order to keep his secret, he agrees to help Tarzan find out just what he is. He is not a gorilla, nor a monkey, that can only mean one thing. When Uto and Kago return, Tarzan is forced to fend them off. Can he escape from the bullies in one piece?

The sequel is a fine accompaniment to the original. Though the first film is considered the last great hurrah of the Disney Renaissance, its sequel is a welcome exploration of a world first brought to life by the famous science fiction and fantasy writer, Edgar Rice Burroughs. TARZAN II is time well spent.